Relish the Bard under the trees

‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’ is staged in the perfect setting.

Oberon, King of the Faeries, is plagued as his disrespectful charges cause him irritation under the orders of his estranged wife, Titania, Queen of the Amazons. Alan Lathan portrays the Greek god in the Main Street Youth Theatre’s production of Shakespeare’s “A Midsummer Night’s Dream.”

Desiree Duff and Daniel Derrer play Hermia and Lysander, a pair of lovers forbidden to marry in “A
Midsummer Night’s Dream,” which opens tonight in the Shelter Cove Community Park on Hilton Head Island.

Hippolyta and the Changeling she adopted, played by Cathy Evangelista and McKenna Byrne, join the faeries in the enchanted wood where they meet the Faerie King Oberon, beginning a strange tale of magic and love in Shakespeare’s “A Midsummer Night’s Dream.”

The themes of William Shakespeare's plays ranged from the sublime to the tragic to the ridiculous. Few would question that his writing was brilliant, colorful and flowed like refreshing water down a mountain stream. When he was not killing off kings, emperors or parents, he was having a lark playing with peoples' emotions.

Such is the case with his comic farce "A Midsummer Night's Dream."

He takes the Greeks, plays with their gods and goddesses, tweaks affairs of the heart and throws in some magic powder for good measure.

Mix in an assortment of comic players and the result is the Main Street Youth Theatre's production this week of Shakespeare's light and lively tale of love.

The show opens tonight and runs through Sunday at the community park in Hilton Head Island's Shelter Cove.

The Duke Theseus and his beloved Hippolyta, played by Barry Bryant and Cathy Evangelista, are soon to be married. When the Duke holds court, he learns that one of his subjects is unwilling to follow her father's will of marrying someone whom he chooses. It's the beginning of confusion as Hermia tells her father Egeus that she does not want to marry Demetrius and loves Lysander. Lysander loves Hermia but Demetrius insists on his position. Add one lovely Helena who adores Demetrius and the plot thickens like flour in gravy. The Duke says Hermia must do what she is told or suffer grave consequences according to Greek law.

Starring in the roles as unhappy lovers are Desiree Duff and Daniel Derrer as Hermia and Lysander, Ella Cuda and Nick Evangelista as Helena and Demetrius, and Alan Lathan and Cathy Evangelista as Oberon, the king of the faeries, who fights with his bride Titania, queen of the Amazons.

Egeus is played by Larry Gaynes and Kirsten Hutton plays Philostrate, who orchestrates goings-on in the duke's court and seems to be the only one with any sense - other than the duke and his lady.

Into the Duke's court on his wedding day comes a travelling troupe of players, otherwise known as "The Mechanicals," partly because its members are really working tradesmen. Heading the group is Sheila Chadra playing Peter Quince the director, a true thespian who discovers his actors are not quite up to snuff. Quince finds at the head of that list of dubious performers one Nick Bottom, played by Jenny Zmarzly. Bottom is fully confident of his ability to play the lead of Pyramus in the company's little presentation of "Pyramus and Thisbe." He is also confident of his ability to play every other role as well. His ego is as inflated as the band shell in which the play will be performed.

Borrowed from the Hilton Head Symphony Orchestra, the shell provides the stage for the performers and looks out over the greensward where the audience is encouraged to put down blankets or quilts or set up chairs. The audience can also bring a picnic dinner or buy food and beverages at the park after they arrive.

Shelter Cove Park is off William Hilton Parkway across from Palmetto Dunes. Gates open at 6 p.m. and the show begins at 7 p.m. Tickets are $10 each and seating is on the grounds first come, first seated. Order tickets online at www.msyt.org or call 689-6246.

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